Easel Adaptor - Stretched Canvas Holder

ABSTRACT

An easel adaptor and canvas holder that enables an individual to handle and/or remove a first freshly painted canvas or other material from an existing easel without coming into direct contact with the freshly painted work, thereby enabling another to use the easel before the first painting is completed. The easel adaptor and canvas holder also enables an artist to freely paint the edge surfaces of a canvas without having to wait for the freshly painted canvas to dry before repositioning the canvas relative to the easel.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/389,756 filed Oct. 5, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for retaining and repositioningfreshly painted canvases and other paintable surfaces without the needfor the artist to come into direct contact with the freshly paintedwork.

BACKGROUND

Easels are commonly used by artists and the like to hold a stretchedcanvas or other paintable surface in place while the artist paints thesame. However, prior art easels have many limitations. For example, mosteasels rely upon gravity to retain the stretchable canvas or otherpaintable surface, meaning that the bottom of the canvas rests upon aportion of the easel, such as a shelf. Other prior art easels applypressure to the top and bottom edges of the canvas, and/or to thecorresponding sides, to hold the canvas or other paintable surface inplace while the artist or painter paints the same. These types of priorart easels make it difficult for the artist or painter to paint theouter edges of the canvas without moving or repositioning the wetcanvas, which can damage the painting in progress. Therefore, artistsmust either wait until the freshly painted surfaces dry, so that thecanvas can be repositioned and the outer edges painted, or risk damagingtheir work.

However, freshly painted surfaces oftentimes take hours to properly dry,and a painting may need to be repositioned multiple times along a priorart easel so that all of the desires edges can be painted, which canunnecessarily lengthen the time it takes for an artist to complete asingle painting and discourage the artist from creating additionalpaintings.

Other problems associated with the use of the above described prior arteasels can occur in a group setting, such as an art classroom or in aschool or studio. For example, an art class comprised of twenty studentsin each of three consecutive class periods on any particular day, as iscommon in many schools, would require the use of at least sixty easels.This is true because the students from the earlier class periods may notbe able to remove their freshly painted canvases from the prior arteasels to permit students in subsequent class periods to use the priorart easel without risking damage to their artwork. The handling offreshly painted canvases and other surfaces can lead to smearing orother damage to the painting, which is undesirable. Further, schools andstudios may not be able to purchase, maintain and/or store so manyeasels due to budgetary or space constraints, which could result in lessopportunity for students, artists and painters to participate in an artor painting class.

Consequently, there exists in the art a long-felt need for a canvasholder that enables an artist or other person to handle and/or move afreshly painted canvas or other material without actually coming intodirect contact with the freshly painted work. There is also a long feltneed for a canvas holder that enables an artist to freely paint eachside of a canvas without having to reposition the freshly painted canvasrelative to the easel or wait for the painted surfaces to dry.

Additionally, there is a long felt need for a canvas holder that can beused with an existing easel and that enables an individual to remove afirst freshly painted canvas from said easel without damaging the same,thereby enabling another to use the same easel before the first freshlypainted canvas is completed and reducing the number of overall easelsrequired.

Finally, there is a long-felt need for a device that accomplishes all ofthe forgoing objectives, that is relative easy and inexpensive tomanufacture and use, and that can be used with various sized canvases.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summaryis not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof,comprises a canvas holder device that enables an individual to handleand/or remove a first freshly painted canvas or other material from anexisting easel without coming into direct contact with the freshlypainted work, thereby enabling another to use the easel before the firstwork is completed. The canvas holder also enables an artist to freelypaint each side of a canvas without having to reposition the canvasrelative to the easel or wait for the freshly painted surfaces to dry.In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the canvas holderdevice comprises a pair of spaced apart first members, a second memberadjacent to said pair of spaced apart first members and repositionablerelative to at least one of said pair of first members, at least onesupport and a fastening device.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein inconnection with the following description and the annexed drawings.These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various waysin which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intendedto include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages andnovel features will become apparent from the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of the canvas holder deviceof the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear elevational view of the canvas holder deviceof the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a partial perspective view of a portion of a bracket.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevational view of the canvas holder deviceof the present invention with the second member repositioned relative tothe pair of first members.

FIG. 3A is a typical sectional view through first member andillustrating the groove portion therein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear elevational view of the canvas holder deviceof the present invention with a stretched canvas installed thereon.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the front of the canvas holderdevice of the present invention, with a stretched canvas installedthereon, removably installed on an easel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, whereinlike reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout.In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding thereof It may be evident, however, that the innovationcan be practiced without these specific details.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodimentof the canvas holder device 100 of the present invention which iscomprised of a pair of first members 120, a second member 130, at leastone support 140, and a fastening device 170. Unless otherwise statedherein, all components of device 100 are preferably comprised of wood,though it is contemplated that other materials, such as metal, plasticand the like, could also be used without affecting the overall conceptof the present invention.

Each of said pair of first members 120 is preferably an elongated memberwith a generally square or rectangular shaped cross-section. Each ofsaid pair of first members 120 is preferably further comprised of afront portion 122, a rear portion 124, and side portion 126, wherein atleast a portion of one of said side portions 126 is in contact withsecond member 130 as illustrated in FIG. 1. First members 120 are inspaced apart, approximately parallel, relationship to one another andcan be connected by at least one of supports 140, as will be describedin greater detail below. First members 120 may also be connected to eachother in spaced-apart, approximately parallel relationship by at leastone bracket 129, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The dimensions of each offirst members 120 can be suited to user preference, but first member 140is preferably between 16 and 24 inches in length, 1 and 3 inches inwidth, and ¼ and ¾ inches in depth.

Each of said pair of first members 120 is preferably further comprisedof a groove portion 127 and an opening or slot 128 formed therein forreceipt of a fastener body 173 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Ina preferred embodiment, groove portion 127 would be formed along thelength of at least one side portion 126 of at least one first member 120for mating receipt of a tongue portion 136 of second member 130, as willbe described more fully below. Slot 128 extends through each of saidfirst members 120 from front portion 122 to rear portion 124, and alongat least a portion of the length of each of first members 120. Thelength of slot 128 is preferably between 8 and 16 inches in length,though it is contemplated that larger or smaller slots could also beused. The width of slot 128 is sized larger than the size or diameter offastener body 173 to permit fastener body 173 to slide within slot 128as second member 130 is repositioned relative to said pair of firstmembers 120 or vice versa, as will be described more fully below.

Second member 130 is also preferably an elongated member with agenerally square or rectangular shaped cross-section. Second member 130is further comprised of a front portion 132, a rear portion 134, andtongue portion 136 along one or more sides of second member 130. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, second member 130 is positionedbetween and adjacent to each of said spaced apart first members 120, andis slidably repositionable relative to said pair of first members 120.More specifically, second member 130 is positioned between the pair offirst members 120 such that tongue portion 136 of second member 130matingly engages the groove portion 127 of one or more of first members120 thereby slidably securing second member 130 to each of first members120. The shape and size of each of groove portion 127 and tongue portion136 can be designed to suit user preference and can be interlocking, ornot interlocking, as shown in FIG. 3A. It is also contemplated that thearrangement could be switched such that each of first members 120 wouldhave a tongue portion and second member 130 would have correspondinggroove portions for receipt of said tongue portions.

Similar to first members 120, the dimensions of second member 130 canalso be suited to user preference, but should be of approximately thesame depth of first members 120 as explained more fully below. Secondmember 130 is preferably between 16 and 24 inches in length and 1 and 3inches in width, and ¼ and inches in depth.

Similar to first members 120, second member 130 is also preferablyfurther comprised of an opening or slot 138 formed therein for receiptof a fastener body 173 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. Morespecifically, slot 138 extends through second member 130 from frontportion 132 to rear portion 134, and along at least a portion of thelength of second member 130 as shown in FIG. 1. The length of slot 128is preferably between 8 and 16 inches in length, though it iscontemplated that larger or smaller slots could also be used. The widthof slot 138 is sized larger than the size or diameter of fastener body173 to permit fastener body 173 to slide within slot 138 as secondmember 130 is repositioned relative to the first members 120 or viceversa, as will be described more fully below.

Each of supports 140 is also preferably an elongated member with agenerally square or rectangular shaped cross-section, and is preferablycomprised of a top surface 142 and a bottom surface 144. As illustratedin FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, each of supports 140 preferably spans across atleast a portion of the front surface 122 of first members 120 and thefront surface 132 of second member 130, and is preferably attached toeither first members 120 or second member 130 with a support fastener146, such as a nail, screw, bolt or the like. More specifically, device100 preferably is comprised of at least two supports 140, with onesupport 140 being attached to one or more of the first members 120 andthe second support 140 being attached to the second member 130 in spacedapart relationship from the first support as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and3. The purpose and usefulness of supports 140 are described in greaterdetail below.

Fastening device 170 is preferably comprised of a plurality of fasteners171 and a bracket 176. Each of fasteners 171 are further comprised of afastener head 172 and a fastener body 173. At least a portion offastener body 173 is preferably threaded for matingly engaging a nut174, such as a wing nut. Bracket 176 has a plurality of openings 178therein for receipt of fasteners 171, as described more fully below andbest illustrated in FIG. 2A. Each of fasteners 171 and bracket 176 arepreferably comprised of a durable metal such as steel, though it iscontemplated that other durable materials such as plastic and the likecould also be used without affecting the overall concept of the presentinvention.

In a preferred embodiment, fastening device 170 is installed on canvasholder 100 by inserting at least one of fasteners 171 through both slot128 in first member 120 and opening 178 in bracket 176, which ispreferably installed along the rear portion 124 of first member 120 andthe rear portion of second member 130, and removably securing the samethereto with nut 174 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. More specifically,as nut 174 is tightened on fastener 171, fastening device 170 clampsdown on the first member 120 upon which it is installed thereby limitingits movement along slot 128 relative to fastener 171.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an additionalfastener 171 is inserted through both slot 138 in second member 130 andan additional opening 178 in bracket 176, and removably secured theretowith a nut 174. Similarly, as nut 174 is tightened on fastener 171,fastening device 170 clamps down on second member 130, thereby limitingits movement along slot 138 relative to fastener 171 and first members120.

Slots 128 and 138 are larger in size than the diameter of fastener body173 to permit first member 120 and second member 130 to slide or moverelative to fasteners 171 in slots 128, 138. However, slots 128 and 138are smaller in size than the size of fastener head 172 to preventfasteners 171 from passing completely through slots 128, 138.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of canvas holder 100, itsuse and usefulness will now be described. FIG. 4 shows a rearelevational view of a preferred embodiment of canvas holder 100installed on a stretched canvas 200. Stretched canvas 200 is well knownin the art and is comprised of a frame 210 and a canvas portion 220stretched over and attached to a portion of said frame 210. To properlyinstall canvas 200 on canvas holder 100, a user simply loosens orremoves nut 174 on one or more of fasteners 171, thereby lessening theclamping pressure applied thereby to the corresponding first or secondmember 120, 130 and permitting the fastener 171 to be repositioned alongits corresponding slot 128, 138 in said first or second member 120, 130.With respect to canvas 200 in FIG. 4, second member 130 has beenrepositioned in an upward manner, relative to first members 120 and thefastener 171 installed on second member 130, such that the top surface142 of the uppermost support 140 attached to the front portion 132 ofsecond member 130 is in contact with the upper member 212 of frame 210.Similarly, each of first members 120 has been repositioned in a downwardmanner, relative to second member 130 and the fastener 171 installed oneach of first members 120, such that the fastener 171 is near the top ofthe slot 128 and the bottom surface 144 of the lowermost support 140,attached to the front portion of said first member 120, is in contactwith the lower member 214 of frame 210. Upon the desired positioning offirst and second members 120, 130 relative to canvas 200, each of nuts174 can be reinstalled and/or tightened on fasteners 171 therebysecuring canvas holder 100 in the desired position.

Once a user (not shown) has properly installed canvas 200 on canvasholder 100, the user can then handle and/or remove the freshly paintedcanvas (not shown) from an existing easel (not shown) without cominginto direct contact with the freshly painted work, thereby enablinganother to use the easel before the first painting is completed. Thecanvas holder also enables the user or artist to freely paint the edgesurfaces of the canvas portion 220, because said edge surfaces are notin contact with any portion of the easel (not shown), without having towait for the freshly painted canvas to dry before repositioning thecanvas relative to the easel.

FIG. 5 depicts an alternative manner of installing a stretched canvas300 on canvas holder 100, wherein canvas holder 100 is also removablyattached to a prior art easel 400. More specifically, canvas 300 ispositioned between supports 140, as opposed to having supports 140engage portions of the frame as depicted in FIG. 4. This embodiment maybe preferred by an artist whom does not wish to paint the edges of thecanvas that are in contact with supports 140.

As illustrated in the various FIGS. an optional mounting bracket 190 canbe attached to canvas holder 100 by any means known in the art to permitcanvas holder 100 to be hung from a wall (not shown) or suspended from aceiling or other structure. Enabling an artist to reposition his or herfreshly painted canvas and suspend it from a wall or other structure toproperly dry enables the artist or an instructor to make the easelavailable for another student or artists without jeopardizing thequality of the first painting. Such a device also reduces the amount ofeasels required in a studio or classroom setting, thereby reducing costsand the space required to store said easels.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subjectmatter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art mayrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimedsubject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

1. A canvas holder comprising: a pair of first members; a second member,wherein said second member is adjacent to at least one of said pair offirst members and repositionable relative to at least one of said pairof first members; at least one support; and a fastening device.
 2. Thecanvas holder of claim 1 wherein said fastening device is furthercomprised of at least one fastener and at least one nut.
 3. The canvasholder of claim 2 wherein at least one of said second member or at leastone of said pair of first members has a slot therein.
 4. The canvasholder of claim 3 wherein a portion of said at least one fastener ispositioned within said slot.
 5. The canvas holder of claim 1 wherein atleast one of the following is comprised of wood: the pair of firstmembers, the second member and the at least one support.
 6. The canvasholder of claim 1 further comprising a mounting bracket.
 7. The canvasholder of claim 1 wherein said at least one support is attached toeither the second member or at least one of said pair of first members.8. A canvas holder comprising: a pair of first members; a second member;at least one support; and a fastening device, wherein at least one ofsaid pair of first members is adjacent to the second member andrepositionable relative to the second member.
 9. The canvas holder ofclaim 8 wherein said fastening device is further comprised of at leastone fastener and at least one nut.
 10. The canvas holder of claim 9wherein at least one of said second member or at least one of said pairof first members has a slot therein.
 11. The canvas holder of claim 10wherein a portion of said at least one fastener is positioned withinsaid slot.
 12. The canvas holder of claim 8 wherein at least one of thefollowing is comprised of wood: the pair of first members, the secondmember and the at least one support.
 13. The canvas holder of claim 8further comprising a mounting bracket.
 14. The canvas holder of claim 8wherein said at least one support is attached to either the secondmember or at least one of said pair of first members.
 15. A canvasholder comprising: a pair of first members, wherein at least one of saidpair of first members has a slot formed therein; a second member,wherein said second member has a slot formed therein; at least onesupport; and a fastening device, wherein at least one of said pair offirst members is repositionable relative to the second member.
 16. Thecanvas holder of claim 15 wherein said fastening device is furthercomprised of at least one fastener and at least one nut.
 17. The canvasholder of claim 16 wherein a portion of said at least one fastener ispositioned within either the slot in at least one of said pair of firstmembers or the slot in said second member.
 18. The canvas holder ofclaim 15 wherein each of said pair of first members further comprise agroove portion for receipt of a tongue portion of said second member.19. The canvas holder of claim 15 wherein said at least one support isattached to either the second member or at least one of said pair offirst members.
 20. The canvas holder of claim 15 wherein each of saidpair of first members further comprise a tongue portion for insertioninto a corresponding groove portion of said second member.